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Before you fly

Turbulence forecast: how to check before you fly

Where to see the turbulence expected on your route, what causes it, which routes are usually bumpiest, and the seat that moves least.

To check turbulence before a flight, look up your route on a free turbulence forecast such as Turbli the day before, and check for thunderstorms along the way. Forecasts show where bumps are likely, not a promise, and pilots route around the worst on the day. For the smoothest ride, sit over the wing.

How to check the turbulence forecast

  1. Check a route forecast the day before

    Free route forecasts such as Turbli take your flight number or airports and show the turbulence expected along the way, built from public weather-model forecasts. They are most useful within a day or two of the flight.

  2. Look at the aviation weather maps

    In the United States, the Aviation Weather Center publishes free turbulence and thunderstorm forecast maps for pilots. They are technical, but a band of turbulence across your route is easy to see.

  3. Watch for thunderstorms on the route

    Storms along the way are the most common reason for a bumpy climb or descent. Pilots route around them, which is why a stormy afternoon can mean a longer, bumpier approach.

  4. Pick your seat for a smoother ride

    Seats over the wing move least, because they sit near the plane's center of gravity. The back rows move most.

  5. Listen to the crew on the day

    Pilots get updated turbulence reports from aircraft ahead of them, so the captain's announcement is the most current forecast you will get.

Free places to check

Dizzout is not affiliated with either.

What causes turbulence

Mountain waves

Wind flowing over a high range rises and falls in waves on the far side, like water over a rock. Routes that cross the Andes, the Rockies or the Alps meet them most.

The jet stream

Where fast high-altitude winds meet slower air, the shear makes clear-air turbulence: bumps in a cloudless sky, often over the North Atlantic and the North Pacific.

Thunderstorms

Rising and falling air inside and around storm clouds shakes the plane most during climb and descent. Over land in summer, afternoon heating builds storms, so morning flights are often smoother.

The routes that are usually bumpiest

Turbli ranked 2025 flights between the world's largest airports by the turbulence forecast along their paths. For the second year running, the bumpiest route was Mendoza, Argentina to Santiago, Chile: a one-hour hop straight over the Andes, where mountain waves are common. Mendoza was the departure airport for three of the top four routes.

In the United States, flights over the Rocky Mountains to and from Denver and Salt Lake City lead the list. In Europe, many of the bumpiest routes cross the Alps. The pattern is the same everywhere: high mountain ranges under strong wind.

Where to sit for a smoother flight

Choose a seat over the wing, where the plane moves least, and a window if you can, so you can look at the horizon. Keep your seatbelt fastened whenever you are seated, as airlines ask. The back rows feel the most motion. More on the calmest seat in every vehicle and on your airline in the airline guides.

If turbulence makes you feel sick

Turbulence adds up-and-down motion that your eyes cannot see inside a closed cabin, which is a classic trigger for air sickness. Look out of the window at the horizon or close your eyes, keep your head still against the headrest, open the overhead vent and put down any book or screen. The air sickness guide covers the rest, and the 60 second protocol is for when it is already happening.

Bumpy flight ahead?

Stop Motion Sickness Now

Download Dizzout before you board. If the plane starts bouncing, put your headphones in and press play: drug-free, precisely calibrated audio, with relief in about 90 seconds. It works offline once installed, with no drowsiness.

Try it free

Free to try, no card needed. Or go straight to the App Store or Google Play.

Frequently asked questions

Can you predict turbulence before a flight?

Broadly, yes. Forecasts built from weather models show where turbulence is likely along a route, and they are most useful within a day or two of the flight. They cannot promise a smooth or a bumpy ride, and pilots adjust altitude and route on the day to avoid it.

Where is the best seat to avoid turbulence?

Over the wings. That part of the plane sits near its center of gravity and moves least. The back of the cabin moves most, and a window seat lets you look outside, which helps if you are feeling queasy.

Which flight routes have the most turbulence?

In Turbli's ranking of 2025 flights, the bumpiest route in the world was Mendoza, Argentina to Santiago, Chile, across the Andes, for the second year running. In the United States, routes over the Rocky Mountains to and from Denver and Salt Lake City lead the list, and in Europe many of the bumpiest routes cross the Alps.

Is turbulence worse in the morning or the afternoon?

Over land in summer, the afternoon is usually bumpier, because the sun heats the ground and builds rising air and storms through the day. Early flights often have a smoother climb and descent.

What helps if turbulence makes me feel sick?

Sit over the wing, look at the horizon out of the window or close your eyes, keep your head still against the headrest, and get cool air from the overhead vent. Skip reading and screens until it settles.

Sources

This page explains where to find turbulence forecasts and what they mean for comfort. It holds no forecast of its own and does not rate any flight. Airline and route names are trademarks of their owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. This page is informational and not medical advice.